Forgotten Heroes

In grateful remembrance . . .

Stories of Dutch Pilots:
___________________________

Bob van der Stok ("THE GREAT ESCAPE")

Swagerman

Bodaan

Roeloffsen

Roos

Kiel

- - N E W - -

Linzel

Van Zuylen

Links

After the shameless disturbing of our neutrality by the Nazis, the Dutch Armed Forces were at war suddenly, without much preparation , badly armed and surprised by the modern tactics and weapons of the German Army, "Wehrmacht" and "Luftwaffe".

In the early morning of May 10, 1940 the German Luftwaffe started to destroy our air bases, attacking them from a strange direction, e.g. from the North Sea side. Our Air Defense was expecting them from the East.

The modern Luftwaffe was larger in number than our old fashioned air fleet.

In spite of that, our Pilots fulfilled their duty and started fighting with the Messerschmitts, Heinkels, Junkers with full spirit and were sometimes successfull to hit and damage or shooting down German planes.

After four days our Air Force was knocked out, but Germany lost over 300 planes.

____________________________

Dutch Pilots fighting the Luftwaffe.